Beauty and the Beast - The Second Season

       Though set in the late-1980s, Beauty and the Beast plays like something from another era. There's no irony, cynicism, or hip quips to break the spell of the fantasy (though a little humor would've been nice). Catherine (Linda Hamilton) loves the beastly, if beneficent Vincent (Ron Perlman) with all her heart--and vice versa. Together, they're TV's most soft-hearted crime fighters. To the show's credit, however, they aren't infallible, and there are a few problems they're unable to solve, whether the issue is drug addiction ("Chamber Music"), infectious disease ("Ashes, Ashes" with Highlander's Adrian Paul), or murder ("The Hollow Men"). In retrospect, it's clear that Beauty and the Beast was a reaction to the "greed is good" era. Vincent and his cave-dwelling compatriots represent a more compassionate alternative to "topsider" corruption. Yet all is not harmonious below either. Seriously injured the previous year, Paracelsus (Tony Jay) becomes a Phantom of the Opera-type figure, who aims to destroy Vincent's candle-lit utopia. In addition, a less civilized group of outcasts arrives in "The Outsiders." Fortunately, Vincent has Father (Roy Dotrice), Mary (Ellen Geer), Mouse (David Greenlee), and Pascal (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Armin Shimerman) on his side. Unfortunately, they won't be able to prevent the tragedy that occurs in "The Rest Is Silence." Suffice to say, the season finale sets the scene for a new direction (more is revealed in the third-season opener). Consequently, Beauty and the Beast was canceled the following year, but still managed to rack up 18 Emmy nominations (winning six), spawning a soundtrack, and even inspiring some Saturday Night Live spoofing--a sure sign it had struck a chord. While the first season was devoid of extras, Perlman and Hamilton introduce six key episodes on this set.

Comment:
    in this , the stunning second season of the remarkable love story of vince and cathy , the writers really hit their stride . in episode two entitled "remember love" , we see the ghost of "catherine never" illustrate just how self absorbed and selfish is vincent's ridiculous desire to accomodate catherine's equally appalling wish to smuggle him into the outdoors (via a van ?) for a weekend of sightseeing and romance . there are many such deep and profound lessons for us all (all season) as always with this brilliant reflection upon the countless failings of a catman hybrid and his oh-so-foxy , all-too-human lass . go ahead , ignore the sayer of the law . i have . fight the power . i could write more , but i'm daubing away tears of joy .You will enjoy the set because it is the complete second season. The episode "The Watcher" is a favorite. If, however, you are expectin any commentaries or other such extras you will be disappointed. There are a few intros to episodes by Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. Even the menus on the discs are spare, episode selection only, no scene selection. If you are a fan if Vincent and Catherine don't hesitate.So glad this is now on DVD, really loved it first time round on TV.This was exactly what I was looking for. The series on DVD. The picture and sound were both fine. Delivered quickly. Brought back all the memories of watching this show the first time around.A continuation of season one. It shows as does the first season the power of love over evil.